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2025-2026 General Catalog [Effective Fall 2025]
Political Science (BA/BS)
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Program Information
- All courses must be passed with a “C-” (1.7) or better to be counted in the major.
- No more than 15 credits of lower-division political science courses may be counted toward the credits requirement for the major.
- No more than 12 credits of transfer courses will apply toward the major.
- Up to six (6) credits of POLS 4830 - Readings and Conference may be used as track-specific electives with approval.
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Bachelor’s Degree Type: Arts or Science Requirement (12* or 16** Credits)
Select one degree type from either Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science: Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree Requirement (12 Credits*)
- Bachelor of Science Degree - Math or Science minimum requirement 12 Credits
* Note: A portion of the BS requirements may be met by fulfilling the General Education Core and Breadth Areas. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details. orBachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Requirement (16 Credits**)
- Bachelor of Arts Degree - Foreign Language Requirement 16 Credits
** Note: One semester of a foreign language may also fulfill the General Education Humanities requirement. The 16 credits may be fulfilled by taking four semesters of a foreign language or by testing out of a language and purchasing the credits. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details. General Education Requirement (28+ Credits)
See General Education for course options. - Core Course Requirements (12+ Credits)
- Breadth Area Requirements (16+ Credits)
Political Science Curriculum (34 Credits)
Core Requirements (16 Credits)
Complete One of the Following (3 Credits)
Complete One of the Following Tracks (18 Credits)
Required Courses (6 Credits)
Complete two of the following: Electives (12 Credits)
Complete 12 credits from the following: Required Course (3 Credits)
Electives (15 Credits)
Complete 15 credits from the following. No more than 6 credits may be from the LEGL courses: International Politics Track
Required Courses (3 Credits)
Complete one of the following (whichever one NOT completed as part of the Core Requirements): Electives (15 Credits)
Complete 15 credits from the following: Free Electives and University Requirements
Students’ total free elective credit is determined by their General Education courses taken, degree type selected (if applicable), additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Some students and/or programs may not have any free electives. For a bachelor’s degree, students must earn - A minimum of 120 total credits;
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in both SUU coursework and combined transfer/SUU coursework;
- 40 upper-division credits , 20 of which are earned from SUU (students may need to select additional upper-division courses not included in their major requirements in order to reach this minimum 40); and
- 30 credits completed through SUU.
Total Credits, BA/BS Degree: 120
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will develop a mastery of critical thinking skills by evaluating political developments individually, through research, and in course discussions.
- Students will be exposed to and understand alternative perspectives on political affairs by engaging in internships, study abroad, community service, and other experiential learning opportunities. Students will develop an understanding of the scholarship, analytical methods, and theories of politics in one or more of the discipline’s four sub-fields: American Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and/or Political Theory.
- Students will develop and hone a mastery of oral and writing skills by communicating their perspectives, empirical findings, interpretations, and the conclusions of their research on political issues, policies, institutions, and behavior.
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